How to Maintain Manicured Dreads

Regular dreadlock maintanance is particularly important in a corporate environment.

Exactly how often you should conduct your locking routine to keep your dreadlocks, or dreads, neat and manicured depends on your lifestyle and job requirements. If you're in a corporate, high-profile position where you need to maintain a professional appearance at all times, you may need to maintain your dreads as much as once a week. However, keep in mind that the more you handle your dreadlocks, the more likely they are to break.

Things You'll Need

• Residue-free dreadlock hair products
• Hair dryer
• Loctician
• Assistant

Instructions

1. Wash your dreadlocks no more than once a week, unless you have an active lifestyle or work in an environment with strong odors, such as a kitchen. However, you should wash your locks no less than every two weeks. Infrequent washing prevents breakage and frizzing of the lock, but no washing encourages bacterial growth and scalp infections.

2. Use residue-free hair products. As soap residue builds up on dreadlocks, they become dull and even turn gray or whitish. When possible, use products specifically designed for dreadlocks.

3. Avoid products that contain alcohol. They will have a drying effect on the dreads, increasing the chances of breaks and frizzing.

4. Wring excess water from each dreadlock and allow sufficient time for the dreadlocks to dry all the way through before sleeping on them. Don't use a towel on your dreadlocks to avoid frizzing and lint. Hair dryers are optional, but not necessary. Sleeping on wet dreadlocks prevents them from drying and causes mold to grow.

5. Give yourself a scalp massage once a week to stimulate natural oil, which will prevent dandruff and keeping new hair growth healthy. In addition, the oils help new growth to lock.

6. Repeat your locking method of choice at least once a month to lock new growth and control loose hairs. Locks become frizzy due to new growth, broken hairs and a general loosening of the lock. Backcombing and crocheting dreadlocks are more likely to produce broken hairs within the locks that will work their way out.

7. Sleep with your dreads wrapped in a silk scarf or cap. This prevents the dreadlocks from picking up lint from your sheets and reduces frizzing of dreadlocks due to friction.

8. Make an appointment with a loctician every one to six months. This step is optional. Locticians are expensive, but helpful in maintaining new growth and keeping tight, manicured dreadlocks, particularly at the back of your head. If you don't want to spend the money on regular loctician visits, enlist the aid of a friend or spouse and visit a loctician at least once to train them in maintaining your dreads.

Tips & Warnings

• Waxing dreadlocks is an iffy subject in the dreadlock community. Some insist that it prevents proper locking, while others say it helps to prevent and tame frizz. Discuss your options with your loctician and use wax sparingly to avoid creating visibly waxy clumps of hair.

References

• MyDreadlocks.com: How to Take Better Care of Dreadlocks . . . The Quick and Easy Way
• MyDreadlocks.com: Dreadlock Maintenance Turns Drab Dreads into Luscious Locks in 5 Easy Steps
• MyDreadlocks.com: Dreadlock Stylists can be a Key Part of Your Dreadlock Hair Care Routine
• The Dread Queen: Washing
• The Dread Queen: Waxing